Re: Dec. 26 E.J. Dionne Jr. column.
E.J. Dionne Jr.’s column supporting a popular vote for president lacks an important point. He uses the examples of a county election, a single election, winner-take-all and a state election, also a single election, winner-take-all. However, the national election is not a country-wide single election.
Each state, and the District of Columbia, is responsible for its own election; therefore, there are actually 51 separate elections that make up the overall presidential election. Each state has its own winner-take-all election and that person gets the electoral votes.
Hillary Clinton won New York and California, which have far greater populations than many other states, thereby giving her large voting numbers. But, in the end, these were just two elections out of many. Trump won more elections (states) and thus more electoral votes.
Supporters of the popular vote didn’t have an issue with the Electoral College before the election. Now they do and their argument always “forgets” to mention how the voting works.
Carl Christensen, Arvada
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